The discovery of a centuries old Dokaalan probe, containing a message relating to the imminent destruction of their homeworld, reminds the Federation of a similar probe recovered by the Vulcans two hundred years previous. At the time, it was decided that since the disaster occurred decades previous no further action should be taken. Now, Starfleet dispatches the Enterprise to discover the Dokaalans' fate, an assignment many of the crew see as a means of getting them out of the way following the Ontailian incident.